title: Is somatic health screening in patients with severe mental illness of added value?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the added value of somatic screening for patients with severe mental illness over regular care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the information on somatic health problems collected by screening with the general practitioner (GP) files (n = 118).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of somatic health problems detected with somatic health screening was significantly higher than those noted in GP records (p < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Somatic health screening is an addition to the care provided by the GP. Advanced mental health nurses can play a key role in somatic health screening and initiating further cooperation and communication of GP and mental health care.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Care, Groningen University, Groningen, the Netherlands; GGZWestelijk Noord-Brabant, Mental Health Hospital, Halsteren, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Fenneke M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: van Hasselt
authors.forename: Celine S M
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Thier
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Rijswijk
authors.forename: Anton J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Loonen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mental disorders; community mental health services; comorbidity; health promotion; health status